Report Shows Growth in Machine Vision Systems

SAN ANTONIO—According to new research from Frost & Sullivan, machine vision systems are becoming more critical for industrial automation and robotics.

The report, titled “Advances in Machine Vision Systems,” is part of the firm’s Technical Insights Growth Partnership Service program. It provides a technology overview and outlook for machine vision systems and covers architectures by which vision systems are built, machine vision cameras, advanced imaging and image processing techniques, infrared imaging, robotics, and artificial intelligence and vision.

“These systems add a new dimension to statistical quality-control principles and process control systems,” said the consulting firm. “In addition, advancements in semiconductors and reductions in computing costs have provided an impetus to the deployment of machine vision systems.”

Human error, high labor costs and unreliable quality-control processes can increase costs for manufacturers, and machine vision systems can help solve these problems, according to the research. Current vision systems require little operator training and can reduce liability risks resulting from defective products.

“Machine vision systems are increasingly used for complex factory applications due to advancements in machine vision components, such as cameras, illumination systems, processors, and imaging techniques,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Vishnu Sivadevan.

“However, due to the availability of low cost labor in developing economies, machine vision systems remain confined to high-end or large scale manufacturers,” the firm continued. “On the operational level, vision systems entail a high cost of development and deployment while posing challenges for future upgrades.”

“Pre-deployment costs and cost of ownership are major factors that must be considered to ensure a high return on investment,” added Sivadevan. “Continuous maintenance and operator training support are essential for high-end machine vision systems.”

For the full report, visit www.technicalinsights.frost.com.